Filmmakers push for more support
The Film Association of Malawi (Fama) has asked government to allocate more resources to the creative sector to demonstrate commitment to improving the industry.
Fama president Ezaius Mkandawire said this on the sidelines of a Euro Film Festival 2021 workshop in Lilongwe on Friday.
He said government should match its policies for the creative sector with tangible actions.
“In 1964, we kicked out the colonial government because we alleged that they were not respecting our culture. Now, almost 60 years later, they are coming to us to support our culture. This means something is wrong with us,” said Mkandawire.
The Fama president said government should pump more resources into the arts, while partners supplement those efforts.
“Ideally, it should have been the Government of Malawi putting the culture of its people in the forefront. Culture and tourism are one of the bedrocks of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy, but does that translate to investment in the cultural sector?
“I dare say to government, if they invest more resources in the creative sector, we will have more investments through more music, videos and books, among others. However, what happens is the opposite,” he said.
On his part EU Delegation to Malawi charge d’affairres Ivo Hoefkens said the workshop was aimed at supporting the local film industry in raising its fine expressions of Malawian culture.
“Cinema is probably the most comprehensive cultural expression. It has everything: the acting, visual, music, among others. Culture is important to us also in our relations with Malawi,” he said.
Hoefkens also said EU wants to build cultural relations with Malawi, adding that next month, they will hold the European Film Festival.
He said the event will give locals a platform for cultural exchange.
Hoefkins said: “This will be between the people that have made more films than Malawi and us that are only beginning to make them. In that way, we will have a situation where people learn through experience.”
Details of the film festival will be announced in due course, according to the EU Delegation to Malawi.
